Peljesac Sites

Peljesac Paradise Sites

JANJINA (web site about
Janjina), a village in the interior of the Peljesac
Peninsula, at the foot of the Gradina hill (244 m), 2 km from the Drace harbour
on the north-eastern coast; population 333. Chief occupations are farming,
viticulture and olive growing. Janjina is located on the regional road.
On the locality of Gradina above the village is an Illyrian hill-fort; around it
are many tumuli. The walls of a Roman country mansion (villa rustica) and stelae
from the 1st century have been found near the church of St. Stephen on the
cemetery. Important are also the remains of the pre-Romanesque church of St.
George with a late mediaeval graveyard; on the fragments of its altar partition,
adorned with "pleter"(interlacery ornaments), is also an inscription of the
donator Petar. A rustic relief with the sitting figure of St. Blaise has been
built in above the entrance into the former ducal palace. The village features
several nice captain houses from the 19th century; the dominating structure is
the church of St. Blaise, built in the historicist style.
Janjina is located only 2 km from the Drace Cove, where tourists may enjoy
bathing in the crystal clear sea and water sports.

DRACE, a village and cove of the same name on the northern coast of the
Peljesac Peninsula, 30 km northwest of Ston; population 48. The cove is a part
of the spacious bay of Bratkovica, open to the north.
The bay has a number of coves (Drace, Stinjivac, Blazevo and Brijesta). Chief
occupations are farming and fishing. Smaller yachts may dock in the harbour
(depth 1.3 - 3 m), protected from all winds by a breakwater. The village lies on
a local road, branching from the regional road leading through the Peljesac
Peninsula, 2 km northeast of Janjina.

ZULJANA, a village and small harbour in the cove of the same name, on the
southern coast of the Peljesac Peninsula; population 206. The village is located
at the end of a valley which -slowly descends from Gruhavica (352 m) to the sea.
Chief occupations are farming, viticulture, fishing and tourism. Zuljana is
located on the local road, a branch of the regional road.
The Baroque church of St. Martin was built on the foundations of a mediaeval
church; the gable acroterion (from the 15th c.) is probably from the original
church. Next to the church is the chapel of St. Nicholas from 1630. The church
of St. Juliana with the bell tower "na preslicu" was built in the transition
period between the Renaissance and the Baroque. - The remains of Roman graves
have been found.
The village of Zuljana, located in a deep bay, features rural architecture and
one of the most beautiful and biggest pebble beaches on the Adriatic. The cove
of Vucine, as well as several smaller coves, offer camping and sports fishing
opportunities. Clean sea, a variety of home-made foods and especially quality
wines, as well as water sports (sailing, windsurfing) make Zuljana a favourite
tourist destination.

SRESER, a hamlet in the central
part of the Peljesac Peninsula on Malo More, 4 km north of Drace; population 71.
Chief occupations include farming, viniculture, olive growing, fruit growing and
fishing. The islets of Goljak, Srednjak and Gospin Skolj and the cliff Bililo
are off the coast; the hamlet of Rat, with beautiful beaches. Sreser
lies on the local road.

TRSTENIK, a village and harbour in the central part of the southern coast
of the island of Peljesac; population 106. Chief occupations include farming,
viniculture (the famous wine Dingac), fishing and tourism. Trstenik lies on the
local road. Yachts can berth on the landward side of the breakwater or anchor to
the southeast of the breakwater's head. Ship connection with the island of
Mljet.
The coastline along the town and the neighbouring inlets is covered by groves of
pine, offering fine ambience for swimming

Photogallery Peljesac
Sites

with Korcula and Mljet

Janjina

Janjina

Janjina- Mass

Janjina - St. Stjepan

Drače

Žuljana

Žuljana

Sreser

Trstenik

Trstenik

Korčula

Korčula

Mljet

Mljet

Orebić

Orebić

Lovište

Ston

Ston

Trpanj

Viganj - Kite surf.

Viganj

Viganj

Other Peljesac Sites

OREBIC (Orebici), a small town on the southern coast of
the Peljesac Peninsula; population 1,489. An average air temperature in January
is 9.1 °C and in July 26.5 °C. The surroundings is characterized by luxuriant
Mediterranean vegetation. Economy is based on farming, fruit growing, fishing
and tourism. Among the beaches, the most interesting is the cove of
Trstenica.
Orebic has ferry lines with Korcula. It is located on the regional road running
along the peninsula.
In the past Orebic was an important maritime centre; until the 16th century it
was called Trstenica and was the duke's seat under the Dubrovnik administration
(1343-1806). - Stone tumuli and fortifications (on the hills of Gruda and
Vizanjica) date back to the prehistoric times. The traces of a Roman habitation
(remains of a Roman villa - villa rustica, graves) have been found as well. The
small Baroque church has an early Christian marble relief built-in above the
door of the closed arcade. Orebic has also the Maritime Museum. The
Gothic-Renaissance Franciscan monastery (15th c.) is located 2 km west of
Orebic; it features a collection of works of art. The monastery church was built
in 1486 by Mihoc Radisic; the main portal features the relief of Madonna, a work
by an anonymous disciple of N. Fiamberti; in the church is another relief of
Madonna, made by Nikola Firentinac (Nicholas of Florence). - On the hill above
the monastery is a Gothic church, restored in Baroque style, dedicated to Our
Lady of Karmen. Next to it are ancient sarcophagi and several age-old, huge
cypresses, as well as a Baroque loggia and the ruins of the Trstenica duke's
castle.
Since ancient times Orebic has developed as a mari-time centre (the town was
named after a family that gave several captains). The Peljesac Shipping Society
was founded in 1865 and had as many as 33 ocean clippers (sailing ships). As one
of the largest shipping societies on the Mediterranean, it also opened its own
shipyard. When steamers replaced sailing ships, the Society and Orebic suffered
very bad times. However, navigation remained the most appreciated occupation in
Orebic and on the Peljesac Peninsula.
Today, Orebic is an important tourist resort, offering various accommodation
facilities (hotels, apartments), long sand beaches, numerous small coves and
clear seawater, as well as sports and recreational facilities and opportunities
(tennis courts, football; yachting, windsurfing), outstanding gastronomic offer
- especially seafood and famous Peljesac wines (Dingac, Postup) - and pleasant
walks in the surroundings. The cemetery near the church of Our Lady of Karmen
above Orebic, the final resting place of Peljesac-born captains, offers a
beautiful view on the island and the town of Korcula, as well as on numerous
islets in the Pelje-sac Channel. Below the Franciscan monastery and the church
is a forest of cypress, protected as a -forest park. The ships passing through
the Peljesac Channel sound their sirens to greet the church of their patron
saint and the resting place of deceased captains, and are replied by sounding of
the monastery bells.
Close to the monastery is the village of Karmen with several mediaeval
monuments. It is the starting point of walking tours to the picturesque upper
villages of Ruskovici, Stankovici and Podvlastica. One of the favourite ascents
to the peak of Sveti -Ilija (St. Elias) (961 m) also starts here.
Numerous traditional religious feasts take place in Orebic and the surroundings,
the most notable being the feast day of Our Lady of Karmen (16th of July).
Theatre tours are organized in the summer months, as well as other cultural
events and entertainment programs.

STON, a town and harbour in southern Dalmatia, on the extreme north--west
of the Ston Channel and the isthmus of the same name connecting the Peljesac
Peninsula with the mainland, 59 km northwest of Du-brov-nik; population 581.
Chief occupations include farming, viniculture, olive growing, synthetic
material processing, fishing, oyster farming and tourism. The sa-lt-works used
to be and still are most important for Ston. Ston is situated on the regional
road connecting the main road with Peljesac.
Roman settlement Sta-g-n-um. The fou-ndations of the Roman castrum can still be
seen on Starigrad Hill. In the 10th century Ston was the seat of the diocese,
probably located by the church of Our Lady of Luzina. The present Ston was
founded in 1333, as soon as Du-brovnik got hold of Peljesac. The town was
fortified by 980-m long walls, forming an irregular pentagon, with mo-re massive
towers on the corners. From the north-western corner the walls rise to the top
of Po-zvizd Hill, where they merge with Pozvizd Fortress, and from the
north-eastern corner they follow the line of the isthmus to coalesce with the
walls of Mali Ston. The most massive fortress of Stone, Veliki Kastio, rises on
the south-western corner. The wall east of it was running along the coast which
borders with the saltworks of Ston between the coast and the sea. The huge
fortified complex was built by Dubrovnik between 1333 and 1506. Famous masters
include: Zupan Bunic 1455, Bernardin from Parma 1461, Olivier the French
1472-1478 and Paskoje Mili-cevic 1488-1506. The school of Ston was mentioned
already in 1389, the almshouse in 1485 (the building still stands there), and
the orphanage in 1494. The most representative secular buildings within the
walls are the Chancery of the Dubrovnik Republic, built in Gothic and
Renaissance styles, Sorkocevic Palace and the former bishop's palace (1573;
elements of late Renaissance and the arcade accommodating a collection of stone
monuments). The former Renaissance Duke's Palace was expanded and reconstructed
in the 19th century. The Franciscan monastery with its Gothic-Renaissance style
cloister and the Romanesque-Gothic church of St. Nicholas date back to 1347. The
complex holds several pieces of art: a big painted crucifix (a work by Blaz
Juraj Trogiranin), the silver frame of the missal, the Gothic wooden statue of
St. Nicholas, etc. On the location of the present pseudo-Gothic church of St.
Blaise (from 1870) there used to be a 16th-century cathedral (collapsed in the
earthquake of 1850); the only preserved remains were the wooden statues of St.
Blaise, Sts. Peter and Paul, the icon of Our Lady (by Andrea Rizzo). The parish
church of the Annunciation was erected in the 15th century outside the walls, on
the location of the former parish church of Our Lady of Luzina. The sacristan's
loggia with two big bells (cast by Ivan Rabljanin in 1528) is in front of the
church. The well-preserved pre-Romanesque church of St. Michael (9th c.), with
valuable early Romanesque mural paintings (featuring the king donor and saints)
rises on the St. Michael hill. There are several other old churches in the
surroundings of Ston, most of them in ruins now. These are the church of St.
Peter with a memorial chapel (probably the first cathedral of Ston), St.
Magdalene on the Gorica hill (sarcophagus, fragments of mural paintings), St.
John and St. Stephen (within which the foundations of a pre-Romanesque church
have been dis-covered), the early Romanesque church of St. Martin and the
reconstructed Romanesque church of Our Lady of Luzina.
The historical small town of Ston, with its famous walls and numerous cultural
and historical monuments, is one of the most beautiful examples of a fortified
town and Dubrovnik architecture. The restaurants offer domestic specialities,
especially oysters, as well as other seafood. Ston is also known for its
saltworks, and the coast along the Channel and in the Prapratna cove provides
fine swimming, fishing and underwater fishing opportunities. The beautiful sand
beach is ornamented with centuries-old olive trees, and one of the most
excellent campsites of the region is situated in this scenery. Apart from water
sports, there are many sports grounds designed for tourists' recreation.
Dubrovnik (53.5 km) * Neretva Delta (41.5 km) * Medugorje (Bosnia and
Herzegovina, 81 km) * Korcula (67 km + 2 Nm) * Mljet (2.5 km + 5.5 Nm) * Lastovo
(2.5 km + 32.5 Nm).

MALI STON, a village and harbour in the cove of Mali Ston channel, on the
slopes of Bartolomija (224 m, with a vista point), 1 km northeast of Ston;
population 152. Chief occupations are farming and fishing; cultivation of
molluscs (cove Bistrina, Mali Ston channel). The village lies on a local road
connecting Mali Ston and Ston. The harbour receives smaller yachts; it is
protected from all winds.
Mali Ston was founded by the inhabitants of Dubrovnik in 1334. It is enclosed by
the ramparts in a rectangular shape; their mainland side was built in the period
1336-1347, and the side overlooking the sea in 1358, together with the Harbour
Gate. According to a town plan from 1335, three blocks of houses were built; the
streets intersect at a right angle. The construction of a strong fortress (with
five towers overlooking the sea) started on an elevation on the southern side,
in 1347. The fortress was later called Koruna. The so-called Great Wall extends
from the fortress toward Ston, with a branching path toward the Pozvizd fortress
(1335), located on top of the hill bearing the same name. The harbour of Mali
Ston, finished in 1490, was built on the model of the town port of Dubrovnik. In
the middle of Mali Ston is the church from the mid-14th century, reconstructed
on several occasions; one of its bells was cast in 1419 in Dubrovnik.
Mali Ston is a quiet place, famous for the cultivation of molluscs (oysters,
mussels and other seashells), which offers excellent opportunities for family
vacations; several good restaurants. The Pozvizd fortress , located on the hill
of the same name, offers a nice view on the entire surroundings.

TRPANJ, a town and harbour on the northern coast of the Peljesac
Peninsula, 11 km northeast of Orebic; population 660. Mild climate; the average
air temperature in January attains 7 °C and in July 26 °C. Chief occupations
include farming, fishing and fish processing. Trpanj is situated on the regional
road passing along the peninsula; linked by ferry with Ploce. Yachts can berth
along the embankment.
Once an important harbour of Peljesac, Trpanj developed near a Roman villa
(fragments of mosaics and walls on the old graveyard). Ruins of a mediaeval
fortress rise on the hill above the port. The church of Our Lady of Karmen
(Renaissance main altar with the coat of arms of the Gundulic family) is in the
centre of the town. The new parish church was built in neo-Romanesque style; a
16-th century ornamented stone window of an older church has been preserved. A
small chapel (inscription from 1695) with a wooden Baroque altar is on the edge
of the village.
Beautiful beaches surrounded by groves of pine, numerous inlets, lavish
Mediterranean vegetation and fresh water springs are distinctive features of
Trpanj.
Various accommodation opportunities (hotels, boarding houses, apartments),
domestic food (fish and wine), sports and recreation facilities and intact
nature of the island's interior famous for its quality wines attracts many
regular guests. Trpanj is also known for medicinal mud.

VIGANJ, a village and small harbour to the west of the southern coast of
the Peljesac Peninsula, 7 km west of Orebic; population 330. Situated in a large
cove west of Cape Sveti Liberan, on the rim of a fertile flysh zone. Chief
occupations are farming, fishing and tourism. The mountain excursion area Sveti
Ilija (961 m) lies to the northeast of Viganj. Viganj is situated on the
regional road running along the island.
First settlements on this area date back to the prehistoric and ancient periods.
The parish church of St. Michael was erected in the Gothic period, expanded in
1760. - The shipowner Marko Krstelj had the Dominican monastery and church built
in 1671. The church is a one-nave structure; the main altar is adorned with the
statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. There is also the wooden statue of Madonna
with Child and a Renaissance bust of a saint. A cloister with an arcade in plain
form is near the church.
This place with a long tradition in seafaring is today a beautiful orchard and
botanical garden, protected from the northerly winds, turned to the ever warm
south. Exotic fruit-trees and plants, brought by the famous seafarers of
Peljesac from their journeys on the world seas, grow here. Viganj disposes of
many houses and apartments on rent, and tourists enjoy particularly home-made
products offered by the local producers. The large pebble beach and the groves
of pine will certainly impress those who like swimming. The picturesque hamlets
of Basina, Kovacevici, Kraljevica Selo, Sap-etino Selo, Podac and Dol are
situated above Viganj. The Peljesac Channel terminates on the top of Sveti Ivan,
where an old small church lies near the road, with the remains of the artillery
position of the Austrian navy. Viganj offers nice yachting, surfing as well as
mountain climbing opportunities.